FORBES: CRISTIANO RONALDO WAS THE HIGHEST PAID FOOTBALLER LAST YEAR

US business magazine Forbes says Portuguese super star, Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest paid footballer last year in their new report.

Forbes added that the forward was also the highest-paid team athlete last year. Real Madrid star Ronaldo was said to have earned a total of $82 million (£56.7m), with an annual salary of $53m (£36.7m) and $29m (£20m) in endorsements.

The 31-year-old Portugal captain, who became the world’s most expensive player when he joined Madrid from Manchester United for a record fee of £80m in 2009, signed a lucrative new five-year contract at the Bernabeu in 2013. Forbes, which also ranked Real Madrid as football’s most valuable club, said Ronaldo, a three-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, is now the best-paid team athlete across all sport.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, was second in the list on $77m (£53.3m), with the 28-year-old’s $51m (£35.3m) salary augmented by $26m (£18m) in endorsements. The Argentina captain renewed his Barca contract in 2014. Ronaldo and Messi, who have been the only Ballon d’Or winners since Kaka’s 2007 success, are some distance ahead of Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic in third.

The Sweden captain, 34, made the bulk of his $37m (£25.6m) through his salary with the Ligue 1 champions, with only $7m (£4.84m) coming through endorsements. Ibrahimovic is out of contract at PSG this summer and has yet to make a decision on his next move, with AC Milan and Manchester United among the potential destinations.

Barcelona and Brazil forward Neymar was named the fourth biggest earner, on $36m (£24.9m). Forbes reports that the 24-year-old is the only footballer on the list to earn more in endorsements ($22m or £15.2m) than through his salary ($14m or £9.69m). Neymar, who joined Barca from Santos in 2013, has been tipped to sign a more lucrative deal with the Catalan club for some time, but the agreement has reportedly been held up due to financial issues. Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale made up the top five highest paid footballers in the world.